Torrance, Shoplifting at Kohl's, Civil Compromise Dismissal

Our client, age 27, allegedly walked out of the Torrance Kohl’s with a $49 trash can without paying for it. Kohl’s claimed their loss prevention officer followed our client to her car, repeatedly asking our client to stop and return the item to the store, but our client refused to return to the store. Instead, she got in her car and drove away. Loss prevention then copied down the license plate number and called the Torrance Police.

The client called us a few days after the incident when the Torrance Police contacted her, leaving several voice mails on her phone. She did not know what to do, so she called Greg Hill & Associates.

Greg Hill met with the client and listened to the facts of what happened. Our client owned her own business and had no prior record. Greg told her to respond to the police, but refuse to answer any questions about the incident. Instead, she should give the police our phone number to call.

After the alleged shoplifting, Kohl’s sent her a letter asking her to repay the store’s loss prevention expenses. The expenses totaled $325. Many lawyers advise against paying such a demand because, truly, it is more expensive for Kohl’s to file a small claims action to recover such expenses. Such lawyers advise their clients to ignore such demands.

Each case is different and one must have a good idea of how a judge would rule on a motion for civil compromise. In this case, our office recommended payment of such fees as a step towards requesting dismissal of the case under Penal Code §§ 1377 and 1378, which allows a judge to dismiss a misdemeanor case involving damages to a third party when that party is “made whole.”

Our client followed our advice and paid such fees. Our office then filed a Motion for Civil Compromise.

The judge hearing the case granted the motion, much to the chagrin of the handling prosecutor. This prosecutor, who our office regards as one of the best, had previously offered our client a plea bargain wherein she would plead “No Contest” to a charge of violating Penal Code § 484(a) (“Petty Theft”). The client would then have been placed on thirty six months of summary probation, conditioned upon her payment of $500 in court fines and fees, plus penalties and assessments (total owing to the court would have been about $2,400), performance of fifteen days of Cal-Trans, payment of a $419 booking fee to the City of Torrance and payment of restitution to Kohl’s for the trash can they “lost.”

By having the motion granted, our client saved over $3,000 and avoided performing fifteen days of Cal-Trans. She was very happy.

It should be noted that in Torrance, this strategy is often not so successful. The client was lucky in this case. Greg had five or six such cases dismissed and then the judges changed their general policy on this. Now, such a strategy generally does not work, however, payment of the civil demand may allow negotiation of a much better plea bargain, which can be especially significant if one is trying to minimize probation or lower the fines.

For more information about the issues in this theft offense case summary, click on the following articles:

Thank you so much for putting so much effort in this case. We really appreciate it and we are happy that all turned out well. S.A., Torrance

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Greg Hill did an outstanding job on every level. He was efficient, thorough, knowledgeable, courteous, responsive & brilliant. He welcomed my input and my concerns. . . from the first conversation to the last - I always felt 'it mattered' to him. S.C., Rolling Hills Estates

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Thanks again for your hard work. We want you to know that we are very appreciative of all that you have done [on our son's] behalf. With warmest regards, L.H., Torrance

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Dear Greg, Thank you again for all your help. Your professionalism and thoroughness is greatly admired. I will definitely recommend you to my friends if they ever need legal help. V.L., Carson

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Thanks for investing in my case. I talked to other attorneys out there and they had an arms-length of attitude, but not you. Your intensity and interest helped a lot. C.R., Pomona